Lost In Time: A Doctor Who Fanfiction

Chapter 110 - Complications

"Riv-"

"Riveted to see me here, my dear?" River hastily cut Lyssa off with a nervous smile. "I know I look very different than I used to." She fluffed her bun with one hand. "I've also had a bit of a name change." She cast a meaningful glance at a very bemused John. "I used to be Misty Bell, as you know, but it's Misty Harkness now, for the last six months. A short engagement, I know, but when I met my dear husband last year, I knew we were meant to be." She batted her eyelashes at Jack over her shoulder.

The semi-reformed con man batted his eyelashes at her in turn. "What can I say? It was an explosive first meeting. I felt like I'd been shot, my very heart pierced by you." He clutched a hand to his chest and pretended to swoon before turning back to Lyssa and John. "I couldn't take my eyes off of her - and I knew then, that if I survived that first meeting with her, I wanted to see her again."

"Speaking of first meetings," Lyssa interrupted hastily before Jack could say something and risk bringing back the Doctor's memories. "This is Mr. John Smith, my fiancé. John, you already know Jack, my... cousin." Apparently. "And this is Ri- Misty, an old friend of mine who apparently is now married to Jack."

John clutched Lyssa a little closer to his side and forced a smile. "Well. Congratulations on your marriage, both of you. Apologies for not sending a card, but neither of us were invited," he said pointedly.

"Yes, we are terribly sorry about that," River - or apparently Misty now  - apologized. "We were just so eager to be wed, and as neither of us were here when we met, we didn't want to have to wait for the travel back to hold it. And then we decided to travel around a bit for our honeymoon. Once we arrived back in England, Jack was informed of your need for a new teacher. And he just loves to teach, so naturally he applied right away and was accepted."

"That - that's wonderful!" Lyssa stammered, terribly lost and trying to keep up. "It's very good to see you again, Ri- er, Misty!" She managed a weak but genuine smile. "And you as well, Jack! Though it's definitely a surprise to see you again."

"I'm sure it is," he winked at her, taking her hand and placing a kiss on the back of it, clearly hiding a smirk as he straightened at John's tense posture. "Though I hope our inability to invite you to our wedding doesn't mean we're no longer invited to yours." He glanced pointedly down at the ring on her finger with a raised eyebrow.

"After what you did, you think you'd be invited to -" John cut himself off with a sharp inhale. "Forgive me, Mrs. Harkness," he told River with a polite nod of greeting, ignoring Jack's raised eyebrow. "It's been a long day, and some bad memories were brought up shortly before you arrived, though that's no excuse for my terrible lack of manners. It is wonderful to meet you."

She shook his offered hand with a wry smile. "It's all right. I know very well just how frustrating Jack can be." She shot him a look over her shoulder, narrowing her eyes at his innocent smile in return. "It's good to meet you as well, Mr. Smith."

"Well, it was wonderful to see you both again, but I don't want to keep you, I'm sure you still have a lot to go over with the headmaster to get settled in," Lyssa cut in, keeping a nervous eye on John for any sign of memories returning. "We'll have to get together soon and catch up, it's been so long since I've seen either of you."

John's hand tightened around her waist, but when she glanced up at him, he was offering the other two a strained smile. "Yes, that would be nice. It might be a while, though, as we are both very busy, and I'm sure your schedules will be no less filled as you try to make up for lost ground."

Jack raised an eyebrow, but didn't miss a beat, offering a charming smile and linking River's arm through his. "You're absolutely right, cousin dear," he told Lyssa. "I just wanted to come see my favorite cousin before we got settled in. I'll catch you 'round." He nodded at John. "Smith."